Modi Ji Address Nation on Lockdown Extension at 10 AM Today.
Modi ji address nation on lockdown extension at 10 am today, Tuesday. They already asked in meeting with all state CM, they focus on ‘Jaan Bhi, Jahan Bhi’.
With most states favoring the lockdown to be extended at least by two weeks beyond April 14, the government is broadly focusing on a two-pronged action plan — containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country and staggered resumption of economic activities.
An indication that while the lockdown may be extended to ensure social distancing, some relaxations would be made to push economic activities also came from the prime minister, who during a meeting with chief ministers on Saturday via video conferencing, said it was important to save lives as well as livelihoods.
“While announcing the lockdown, I had said ‘Jaan hai to Jahan hai’ (health is wealth)… Most people in the country understood it and discharged their responsibilities by remaining indoors. And now it is imperative to focus on both aspects, ‘Jaan Bhi, Jahan Bhi’ ((lives as well as livelihoods), for India’s bright future, and prosperous and healthy India,” Modi had said.
Seven states — Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana — have already announced the extension of the lockdown till April 30.
According to the Union Health Ministry’s latest update, the COVID-19 death toll has risen to 308 and the number of confirmed cases climbed to 9,152 in the country, which is under the nationwide lockdown since March 25.
Meanwhile, several union ministers resumed work from their respective offices from Monday as part of the government’s plan to revive economic activities.
The government in an order last week had also asked all officers of the joint secretary level and above to be present in the ministries along with one-third of the essential staff from Monday.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recommended that certain identified industries and services should be allowed to resume limited activity with “reasonable safeguards”.
- Earlier, there were indications that the Prime Minister’s Office is contemplating a graded lifting of lockdown measures, and marking the country into red, orange and green zones, depending on the severity of the coronavirus spread.
- There is speculation that the areas under orange and green zones may get some exemptions. Moreover, the government is considering giving more reprieve to the agricultural sector, in the face of an extension of the current shutdown.
The opposition Congress has, meanwhile, urged Modi to “be bold” in declaring a financial package of at least 5 to 6 percent of India’s GDP to ensure economic recovery post the COVID-19 lockdown.
The party also demanded that the central government pay all pending dues to states to enable them to fight the coronavirus outbreak, besides also giving each of them special economic packages.
